Nativity

Nativity
Nativity Na*tiv"i*ty, n.; pl. {Nativies}. [F. nativit['e], L. nativitas. See {Native}, and cf. {Na["i]vet['E]}.] 1. The coming into life or into the world; birth; also, the circumstances attending birth, as time, place, manner, etc. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

I have served him from the hour of my nativity. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Thou hast left . . . the land of thy nativity. --Ruth ii. 11. [1913 Webster]

These in their dark nativity the deep Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. (Fine Arts) (capitalized) A picture representing or symbolizing the early infancy of Christ. The simplest form is the babe in a rude cradle, and the heads of an ox and an ass to express the stable in which he was born. [1913 Webster]

3. (Astrol.) A representation of the positions of the heavenly bodies as the moment of one's birth, supposed to indicate one's future destinies; a horoscope. [1913 Webster]

{The Nativity}, the birth or birthday of Christ; Christmas day.

{To cast one's nativity} or {To calculate one's nativity} (Astrol.), to find out and represent the position of the heavenly bodies at the time of one's birth. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Nativity — Nativity, a synonym of birth, may refer to: Contents 1 The birth of Jesus 2 Feast days 3 Other 4 See also The bi …   Wikipedia

  • nativity — ► NOUN (pl. nativities) 1) a person s birth. 2) (the Nativity) the birth of Jesus Christ …   English terms dictionary

  • nativity — [nə tiv′ə tē, nātiv′ə tē] n. pl. nativities [ME natiuite < OFr nativite < LL nativitas < L nativus, NATIVE] 1. birth, esp. with reference to place, time, or accompanying conditions 2. Astrol. the horoscope for the time of a given person… …   English World dictionary

  • nativity — index birth (emergence of young), genesis, nascency, nationality, origin (source), origination Burton s Legal Thesaurus. Will …   Law dictionary

  • nativity — (n.) c.1200, from O.Fr. nativité birth (12c.), from L.L. nativitatem (nom. nativitas) birth, from L. nativus born, native (see NATIVE (Cf. native) (adj.)). Late Old English had nativiteð, from earlier O.Fr. nativited …   Etymology dictionary

  • nativity — /neuh tiv i tee, nay /, n., pl. nativities. 1. birth. 2. birth with reference to place or attendant circumstances: of Irish nativity. 3. (cap.) the birth of Christ. 4. (cap.) the church festival commemorating the birth of Christ; Christmas. 5.… …   Universalium

  • Nativity — n. (pl. ies) 1 (esp. the Nativity) a the birth of Christ. b the festival of Christ s birth; Christmas. 2 a picture of the Nativity. 3 birth. 4 the horoscope at a person s birth. 5 a the birth of the Virgin Mary or St John the Baptist. b the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • nativity — n. (pl. ies) 1 (esp. the Nativity) a the birth of Christ. b the festival of Christ s birth; Christmas. 2 a picture of the Nativity. 3 birth. 4 the horoscope at a person s birth. 5 a the birth of the Virgin Mary or St John the Baptist. b the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Nativity — [[t]nətɪ̱vɪti[/t]] N SING: the N The Nativity is the birth of Jesus, which is celebrated by Christians at Christmas. They admired the tableau of the Nativity. ...the Nativity story …   English dictionary

  • Nativity — /nəˈtɪvəti/ (say nuh tivuhtee) Christianity –noun 1. the birth of Christ. 2. the church festival commemorating the birth of Christ; Christmas. 3. a representation of the birth of Christ, as in art. –adjective 4. of or relating to the Nativity:… …  

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